Flu season is already in full swing. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention outlined 40 states that were already experiencing sporadic influenza activity. Of the remaining 10, two states reported regional activity; six states reported local flu activity; and two states reported no activity.

Part of the reason that the flu spread so quickly — especially in the workplace – is because the virus can last for more than an hour in the air and on surfaces.
Among the measures that can help reduce the chances of the virus spreading to other people is extra vigilance when cleaning.

Surfaces such as doorknobs, tables, elevator buttons and faucets should be wiped down frequently Simple alcohol-based cleaning products are effective to against flu. And, of course, handwashing is key.

The virus can be removed from the air by increasing air circulation in the room. Airborne flu viruses in the air can be diluted by increasing the exchange rate of building ventilation systems or turning on ceiling or portable fans.

Air purifiers designed to remove particles are also effective at removing viruses. A purifier with a HEPA filter and a high flow rate will remove the most particles.

It’s not too early to start prevention methods.
Contact us today to raise the level of cleaning and prevention standards in your facility.

Clean low-risk surfaces, such as floors, windows, etc., where the likelihood of pathogen transfer from the surface is low. Sanitizing should only be applied to food contact surfaces, which is required as part of the food code. Disinfection is appropriate for frequently touched surfaces and surfaces likely to harbor pathogens. Since sanitizing does not make anti-viral claims, sanitizing offers no confidence of killing the flu or other viruses commonly found on surfaces.

Cleaning a surface simply removes visible debris, dirt and dust. Sanitizing a surface makes that surface sanitary or free of visible dirt contaminants that could affect your health. Sanitizing is meant to reduce, not kill, the occurrence and growth of bacteria, viruses and fungi. Disinfecting a surface will “kill” the microscopic organisms as claimed on the label of a particular product.

Cleaning alone will always contribute favorably to the health of indoor occupants because allergens and microorganisms are being removed from the surfaces of the indoor environment. The problem, however, is the risk of cross-contamination. The mopping solution and the cleaning tools could be spreading disease in the absence of a germicide.

When you sanitize, you are killing/reducing the number of bacteria present by 99.9 percent (3 log10) but doing nothing about viruses and fungus. Sanitizing is better than cleaning alone but the reduction of pathogen populations on environmental surfaces is exponentially better when you disinfect.

The minimum level of effectiveness in a modern-day disinfectant is 100 percent kill of 6 log10 of an organism. A sanitizer is only required to reduce that 6 log10 down to 3 Log10. We can put that into real numbers. If we start with 1 million organisms on a surface then a disinfectant must kill 100 percent of them; zero left. A sanitizer only reduces the number of organisms down to 1,000 and does nothing about virus and fungus.

Contact Us For Walk thru and a quote of your Facility, to make sure your surfaces are properly cleaned!

March 2018

Cleaning That Focuses On Quality Assurance - Janitorial outsourcing has its critics – and many of them are right. Low-cost janitorial providers sacrifice quality in order to offer low, attractive bid packages. And can end up costing you in the long run.

But that’s not always the case. In fact, many companies enjoy the benefits of outsourcing their janitorial services by balancing cost savings with responsibly addressing the unique needs of their business. Each day this week, we’ll cover the benefits of outsourcing and how to avoid the pitfalls that come with low-cost providers. Today, we’ll cover quality assurance.

Some janitorial providers neglect key items in order to offer rock-bottom prices. And their poor quality control doesn’t just create frustration. It can lead to safety issues and even cause damage to your facility. The key to a successful program is to have robust Service Level Agreements (SLA) for work order management, inspections and even corrective training for when the inevitable hiccup eventually does happen.

Fortunately, not all janitorial providers skimp on quality assurance. There are many that understand how to create a quality-oriented janitorial program that emphasizes accountability and results. Janitorial providers should be able to address on-site supervision, metrics, reporting, responsiveness, and the inclusiveness of the scope of work. Everything from work orders to inspections should be documented. When something isn’t up to your expectations, management should take corrective actions and document them.

Critics of janitorial outsourcing are right to be concerned about service quality. That’s why it’s important to pick a janitorial provider that puts quality first and allows you to reap the benefits of outsourcing, while still being confident in your service quality.

With the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reporting that a typical flu season costs an estimated $7 billion in sick days and lost productivity, the workplace is often “ground zero” for contamination, according to the Business Wire.

“The workplace can be a hotbed for influenza germs. Common areas, break rooms, restrooms, conference rooms, elevator buttons and shared tools can be contaminated with the flu virus. If one person is infected, then they can potentially put the rest of their workplace at risk, even through indirect contact.

Wipe down “high touch areas” with disinfecting wipes at least once a day. High-touch areas would include break room surfaces, conference room tables and chairs, doorknobs, restroom fixtures, light switches and tools that are used by multiple people.

Make sure everyone has flu-fighting supplies at their desk: tissues, hand sanitizer, and disinfecting wipes, at a minimum.

Contact us for a facility assessment of sanitation service and supply products, to keep your work area running at full capacity.